THERE are newer tyres in the
market for your car and some ofthe newer cars come with
power steering. Both determine the handling
characteristics of the car. These are referred to as
over steer or under steer.

The tyres these days are
mostly radial in construction. This means the side walls
are soft. So, they are more prone to distortion while
cornering when lateral forces are applied. Keep in mind
that the car is glued to the road by four small patches
of rubber! You could be cornering at speed and
centrifugal force will try and make sure you dont
come out of the corner. Centrifugal force will make the
car "slip"  all four tyres will have a
slip angle and it will be unequal. This is due to the
weight of the car, centre of gravity, condition of the
tyres, tyre air pressure, and the road itself (wet or
dry, smooth or (pot-holed). There are many variables here
and they all play an important part in the ability of the
car to go around a corner.

Ideally, a car should
have a neutral steering to corner perfectly i.e. the
trajectory of the car into and out of the corner should
be a smooth curve keeping to the middle of the lane. This
seldom happens, as there are far too many factors that
could be working against you.

If a car goes wide at a
corner it is said to under steer. It is entirely possible
it may continue its trajectory and go in line straighter
than the curve of the road. You could end in a ditch!
Cars with front engine and rear-wheel drive tend to under
steer.

Most cars today are
front-engine, front-wheel drive. This changes the C.O G.
dramatically and drastically and in turn the changes are
felt in the steering. The car has a tendency to over
steer. If the steer trajectory is not corrected, the car
will make a loop and leave the road on the drivers
side.

A car with front-engine
and front-wheel drive, power steering and radial tyres
will have a tendency to over steer.

Keeping this in mind,
manufacturers have put in safety features into steering
and suspension. The arrangement is as follows: In case of
an "out-of control" situation, the driver will
automatically, defensively take his foot off the
accelerator. This reduces the power to the wheels and
gives the tyres and chance to re-purchase a grip on the
road. This is why good tyres are important.

Most drivers in the city
may not notice these affectations of the steering. But
drive an old Amby or Fiat and then get into a new breed
with power under the bonnet, power steering and radial
tyres. Instantly the difference will be felt. If the
driver is careful, he will feel the car has a mind of its
own during hill cornering. This can be dangerous. The
driver must be in control of the car at all times,
especially while cornering hard. It is at high speeds
that the over steer or under steer tendencies of the car
manifest themselves. A lonely road at night, no traffic
would be a good time to familiarise yourself with these
handling characteristics. If you are caught unawares on a
crowded road the results could be nasty.

Understand your car. Get
used to its handling characteristics. And most important,
keep the car road -worthy. The tie rod ends, the brakes,
the tyres should be in good condition. Its no use
having good tyres if the tyre pressure is wrong. A small
oversight can destabilise the car. Be aware of your car,
road condition and traffic at all times.